Royal Ascot: Cirrus Des Aigles ends Treve's unbeaten record in the Prix Ganay but philly's best is yet to come

INJURY meant Frankie Dettori missed out on the chance to ride the Criquette Head-Maarek-trained philly when she won last year's Prix de l'Arc de Tromphe, but he was back in the saddle to take the four-year-old through its paces.

FRANCE’S most popular female since Bridget Bardot makes her debut on a British track in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and I believe she’ll be blowing kisses to the opposition.

Injury saw Dettori miss the ride on the Criquette Head-Maarek-trained filly when she won last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but the wee man was back aboard for the four-year-old’s seasonal bow at Longchamp in April.

Treve had to take it on the chin when she lost her unbeaten record to Cirrus Des Aigles in the Prix Ganay, but Dettori felt the filly had valid excuses.

He said: “She won the Prix de Diane on firm ground and beat the track record by two seconds – the ground is not an issue.

“The ground was very heavy in the Ganay, it swung it Cirrus Des Aigles’ way unfortunately. It was her first race of the season, he’d had a race and perhaps he was more fit than me.

"Criquette is very pleased with her and she’s had a lot of time to recover. She hasn’t been away from home, so that’s another question, but she’s the one to beat.”

Head-Maarek feels her filly is versatile regarding the trip, which is two furlongs shorter than the Arc.

“It is difficult to say if this mile and a quarter is her best trip as she has showed a tremendous turn of speed over a mile and a half, won over a mile and broke the track record in last year’s Prix de Diane (over an extended mile and a quarter),” she said.

She’ll be no price today, but I wouldn’t want to be taking her on.

MUWAARY (2.30) can get us up and running in the opening Jersey Stakes.

John Gosden’s Oasis Dream colt landed two seven furlong races at Newbury before being plunged into the French Guineas at Longchamp.

He failed to settle early on for Hanagan and took a while to pick up once asked, but he was powering home at the line and he should be better suited by today’s faster ground.

Richard Hannon identified this race as the target for the daughter of Kodiac after TIGGY WIGGY (3.05) sluiced up on soft ground in a Listed race at Sandown last month, a race Rizeena won before going on to land this Group 2.

A wide-open Queen Mary, Hannon’s filly looks the type to deal with the hurly burly.

Sky Lantern has to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Hong Kong Mile in December. A four-time Group 1 winner against her own sex in Europe, she was taking on the boys for the first time, but she just didn’t fire, finishing last of 14 under tender handling from Hughes.

I’m happy to take her on though with Stoute’s INTEGRAL (4.25) who was comfortably held by Sky Lanetern in the Sun Chariot at HQ in December.

The Cheveley Park filly is now five pounds better off, but more importantly, Stoute’s fillies generally improve with age, so expect a massive run from the daughter of Dalakhani.

Her second to Esoterique over nine furlongs at HQ last month will have put her spot on.

Stoute can follow up with ABSEIL (5.00). The four-year-old has only had four starts, winning two of the them, and still looked green when winning at Epsom last time despite hanging left down the camber.

Bred to be smart, out of Breeders’ Cup winner Intercontinental, the penalty he picks up for winning gets him into the race at the right end, and he has lots to give.

Best bet on the card for me is Mark Johnston’s MUTEELA (5.35) in the closing fillies’ handicap. The Scot’s yard is doing very nicely at present, though not enjoying the best of luck. Not the biggest filly you’ll ever see, she has taken a bit of time to fill out.

From a cracking family including Middle Park winner Awzaan and Hajras, I think we’ve yet to see the best of her. A typical gutsy, Johnston sort, don’t be surprised to see her make every post a winning one.